Keane hat-trick extends lead to 10

Three more winners tonight for Trim jockey Colin Keane at Dundalk that moves him on to the 97-winner mark, 10 clear of defending champions Pat Smullen, ahead of the season finalé at Naas on Sunday.

Fresh from claiming his first Group One success in Italy on Sunday, Keane arrived in Dundalk tonight with a lead of seven.

Following wins on Overcoming for his boss, Ger Lyons and Bid Adieu for Tom Cooper, he rounded off the evening with a third successive win at the track on the Tom McCourt-trained Ben Rumson.

The action returns to Dundalk on Friday night and then the season will conclude at Naas on Sunday evening where the new champion jockey for 2017 (either Keane or Smullen) will be presented with the award.

With 97 winners on the board, it would mark what already is a wonderful season for the young Trim man if he can manage another three winners and reach the 100-winner mark.

Smullen won last year's title with 115 winners while in 2010, as a 16-year-old, Keane registered one winner from 10 rides, Smullen was also champion that year with 95 winners.